Turnanstalten und Turngemeinden” (1846 and 1847).[55] But a second period of reaction set in with the revolutionary movements of 1849, in which many of the turners, the Saxon and South German ones especially, took an active part. In carrying out their policy of repression the various governments again disbanded or put under careful supervision the gymnastic societies, and not only those directly concerned in disturbances, but others which had been well-disposed and preferred to keep _Turnen_ free from partisan politics. Of the three hundred societies in existence in 1849 hardly a third survived the next ten years. A few, however, continued vigorous and active, and this number included some of the largest and best Turnvereine in Saxony and Württemberg. Here Theodor Georgii started his “Turnblatt für und aus Schwaben” (1850-1853),[56] followed by the “Esslinger Turnzeitung” (1854-1856),[57] and this in turn was succeeded by the “Deutsche Turnzeitung” (since 1856),[58] the present organ of the German Turnerschaft. In Dresden Moritz Kloss began to publish the “Neue Jahrbücher für die Turnkunst” (1855-1894).[59] Toward the close of the fifties signs of life began to multiply. The war of France and Sardinia with Austria (1859) and uncertainty as to future relations between France and the German states helped to rouse the slumbering societies and fill abandoned _Turnplätze_ once more. A summons printed in the Deutsche Turnzeitung in March of 1860 and signed by Theodor Georgii and Karl Kallenberg resulted in the first general German convention and _Turnfest_, held at Coburg June 16-19 of that year—the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. More than a thousand adult turners were present, representing one hundred and thirty-nine cities and villages. Formal organization into a national body was impossible as yet, but notwithstanding this a feeling of union was established and a great impulse was given to further growth. The next year the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Hasenheide _Turnplatz_ was celebrated by a second convention and _Turnfest_ at Berlin, August 10-12. The attendance rose to 2812 adult turners, 1659 of them from outside the capital. Two hundred and sixty-two places were represented. This time a standing “Committee of the German _Turnvereine_,” composed of 15 members, was appointed to look after matters of general interest. The committee, at its meeting in Gotha the following December, organized by electing Theodor Georgii chairman and Dr. Ferdinand Goetz business manager; it decided that _Turnvereine_ as such must hold themselves unconditionally aloof from all political partisanship, took action which put a damper on those who wished to have military exercises introduced in all societies, and charged Georg Hirth with an investigation which led to the first “Statistical Annual of German Turnvereine” (Leipsic, 1863).[60] According to this there were on July 1, 1862, in 1153 towns and cities, 1284